Fluid separator



June 3, 1930. BRADSHAW Er AL 1,761,177

FLUID SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 11. 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pager M find/"aw:

G. D. BRADSHAW El AL Jun 3, 1930.

FLUID SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 11. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRANT D. BRADSHAW, OI BEAVER, AND ROGER W. ANDREWS, OI WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ABSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BLAW-KNOX. COMPANY, 01 BLAWNOX, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FLUID SEPARATOR Application filed February 11, 1927. Serial No. 167,571.

This invention relates to fluid separators, and particular-l to separators which have a large number bafiies that are assembled in such a manner as to force the gas to take a circuitous route in passing through the banks of baflies. The particular separator which we have illustrated and described as exemplifying our invention is what is known in the trade as the Tracyfier, in which a large o number of small trough-shaped bafiies are mounted vertically in rows with the individual bafiies of one row staggered with reference to those of the adjacent rows. And the object of the invention is to provide means for assembling such baflies so that they will be accurately positioned with reference to each other and will maintain those positions in spite of use, rough handling and the like.

0f the accompanying drawings Fig. 1. is a transverse sectional View of a separator which embodies the features of our invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fractional sectional view along the lines 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a reduced side elevation of one of the banks of bafiies; Fig. 4 is a fractional sectional view along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fractional sectional view along the line 55 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a bank of baiiles with the casing plate removed; F ig. 7 is an elevation of the bafiles of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. 6 showing a somewhat modified means for assembling the bafiies; Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are sectional views similar to Fig. 5 showing modified means for assembling the bafiles.

Referring to Fig. 1, the separator comprises a casing 15 closed at its ends and having mounted in its sides the banks of baflies 16. In operation the gas passes into the banks of baflies from the outer side. In this instance we prefer to have the gas enter the separator through openings 17, inclined plates 18 being fixed to the casing of the separator so as to force the gas to enter near the upper ends of the baffles, but the plates 18 may be omitted if desired. The top plate 19 closes the upper ends of the baflies. The gas passes downwardly from the openings 17 and into and through the banks of baflies.

The gas then enters the passa eway 20 and from there preferably passes t rough a slot 21 into an inner conduit 22 and thence out of the separator outlet 23.

In passing through the banks of baflies the gas passes, as indicated by arrows, through the spaces 25 between the bafiies and thence into the troughs 26 of the next row of bafiies and along through the passageways 27 and into the spaces 25 between the bailies of the next row, and so on until the entire bank of bafiles has been traversed. In this circuitous passageway the moisture and other impurities in the gas owing to their greater mass, are thrown against the sides of the bafiies and adhere thereto and flow downwardly to the ends of the baflies and into the water chamber 28 and thence out through the drain pipe 29.

As is well understood, the principle involved in purifying gases with separators of this nautre is to provide a circuitous and ever changing passageway for the gas so that the centrifugal force acting on the particles of moisture and other impurities may be efi'ective in separating these impurities from the gas. As a consequence it is very desirable to avoid any so-called leakage through the baffles which results when there is any displacement of the battles with reference to each other so as to eliminate more or less the circuitous route. The baflies in one row are staggered with reference to the baflies in the adjacent row, and, obviously-, if one row should be inadvertently shifted with reference to the adjacent row the battles in one row might not be properly staggered with reference to those in the adjacent rows, and a passageway 25 in one row might coincide more or less with a similar passage in the next row, so that the gas could pass in a fairly straight line from one row to the next.

. We have found that this often occurs in the assembling, either before they are installed or afterwards; and we have provided means for preventing this displacement of the rows of baflies with reference to each .other. The means which we provide for this comprise any suitable members fixed to one row and arranged to project into the spaces between the battles or into the balfle troughs of the adjacent row or rows. Any suitable means of this nature may be provided, but we prefer to provide positioning members such as the lugs 30 which are fixed to the bafiies in one of the rows and pass forwardly into coaction with one or more of the bafllcs of the other row. For instance, the lugs may pass into the spaces 25 between the baflles, or, if desired, these lugs may be inverted and arranged to pass into the troughs of the baflies of the adjacent row. In this instance we provide lugs 30 which are fixed to the bottoms 31 of certain baffles and are of such width as to reach from one side to the other of the battles and of such length as to project a material distance between two adjacent baffles of the adjacent row, the outer end of the lugs being substantially the same width as the desired space between two battles. The lugs, however, may pass forwardly opposite the ends of the adjacent rows, as indicated by the dotted lugs 70 of Fig. 2.

In assembling these baffles it is common first to assemble them in rows as hereinafter described, and then to assemble the various rows in banks. It is customary, though not at all necessary, to form the banks of six rows 32, and, in order to properly position the rows with reference to each other, we provide four lugs 30 for each row, two near the upper ends of the battles and two near the lower ends; and, preferably, these are fixed to batfles near the outerends of the rows. (Fig. 3.) It is to be-understood, however, that the number of lugs and the position of the lugs are not material elements of our invention.

In assembling the rows of baflies into banks, the inner row 32 may be placed in position and the second row may then be positioned by passing the projecting ends of the lugs 30 between two of the baflies, as indicated in Fig. 2. The rows are spaced apart in any suitable manner, preferably in the manner hereinafter described. The next row is then positioned, other lugs 30 acting as guides;

and so on until the rows are all properly assembled with reference to each other. Obviously by this means the rows will be positioned so that the battles in one row will be exactly staggered with reference to the baffles in the other rows, and, if there is no displacement of the battles in the rows themselves, there will be no opportunity for the gas to avoid taking the circuitous route desired.

The baflles may be assembled in rows in any suitable manner. We have found that the baffles when assembled in a well known manner are not always accurately positioned with reference to each other, and some of the baflies may become more or less tilted or inclined, and in the rows, as a consequence, there is a tendency for the steam to leak past these baffles without being properly operated on. To prevent this displacement of the baflles in the rows we prefer to provide channel irons 35 which are placed across the ends of the rows of bailles with the flanges 36 and 37 enclosing the ends of the haflles. The flange 36 is outside of the bottom of the baflle and the flange 37 is set into a recess 38 in the ends of the sides of the baffles. These irons 35 extend from one end of the row to the other, with one iron on each end of the row, and thus the battles are snugly held in place so that twistin or tilting there of becomes impossible un er any ordinary conditions.

In order to hold the channel irons in place. and to fasten the ends of the baifles snugly tothe irons, we provide openings 39 in the channel irons opposite one side of each end of each bafile and provide lugs 40 on the side of the baflles registering with these openings. In assembling, the lugs are passed througi. the openings and the lugs are then bent downwardly against the channel irons. In this manner, as both ends of the baffies so connected to the respective channel irons, tie bafiies are all snugly held in place will erence to each other.

When the rows of baffles thus former. ai assembled in the manner hereinabove de scribed the flanges 36 form stops to limit the movement of one row towards the other and thus to space the rows apart the distance of the width of these flanges. It will hence be seen that when the assembled rows are assembled into banks as described, and are held firmly together by the sides 45 of the casing, the possibility of displacement either of the rows themselves with reference to each other or of the bafiies in the rows is substantially eliminated.

Fig. 8 shows a modified manner of connecting the bailies in rows which consists in forming a lug 50 on each side of each end of the battles and passing these lugs through holes in the channel irons, so that each side of the bafiie is thus held rigidly in contact with the channel iron.

Fig. 9 shows a modification in which the channel iron 55 has the flanges 56 and 57 extending upwardly. The flange 56 preferably extends beyond the bottom of the baflie 16 and thus provides a means for spacing the rows of baflles apart when assembled. The flange 57, however, preferably has its forward edge flush with the forward edge of the baflles. This arrangement provides stiltening flanges for the channel irons 55 and also these flanges reach upwardly to the upper plate 19 and downwardly to the lower. plate of the casing so that the spaces between the ends of the rows of bafiles and the plates of the casing are entirely closed. This prevents leakage of gas through these spaces. V hen this arrangement is not provided for it is customary to close this space by means of yielding gaskets, or in some other manner.

Fig. 10 shows a modification somewhat similar to Fig. 9 except that in this instance the channel irons 60 are the same Width as the depth of the baflies 16 and the spacing of the rows of battles from each other is provided .for by means of strips61 which are fixed in any suitable manner to the bottoms of the baiiles.

Fig. 11 shows another modification in which the channel irons are replaced by L irons 65, the flange 66 of which extends downwardly along the bottom of the baflie and thus provides means for spacing the rows of baflies from each other. In each of the modifications of Figs. 9, 10 and 11 it is preferable to have lugs 50 projecting through openings in the irons from each side of the baflies and at each end thereof, so as to more firmly hold the baflies in place.

Although we have herein specified channel irons for connecting the baflie ends, yet it is to be understood that any suitable metal may be used. Also the particular separator illustrated and described merely exemplifies our invention, as the invention is equally applicable to various other forms and types of separators.

We claim as our invention 1. A fluid separator comprising a plurality of rows of individual baflies, each of said rows comprising a strap mounted along the ends of the baflies in the row, a flange projecting an gularly from one edge of each of said straps along the side of each of the baflles of the row, said rows being assembled in banks with each of said flanges positioned between two adj acent rows for maintaining the proper spaced relation of said'rows, a second flange projecting angularly from the other edge of each of said straps along the opposite side of each baffle, each of said baflles having a recess on said opposite side extending to the end of the baflie into which said second flange projects.

2. A fluid separator comprising rows of individual baflies, said baflies being elongated and trough shaped with their ends in line, a strap mounted across said ends, said strap having a stiffening flange projecting angularly along one edge, an ,1 said strap having openings therethrough registering with the ends of the walls of said baflies. and lugs projecting from said baflie ends and-through said openings, each of said straps having a second flange projecting angularly from its other edge, and arranged to properly space apart the adjacent rows of the separator.

3. A steam separator comprising a bank of baflies, said bank comprising rows of individual elongated battles. a metal strap positioned along the ends of the battles of each of said rows, means connecting each of said baffles to said strap, flanges projecting angularly from eachedge of each strap and elasping the end of each baflie, said rows being assembled with said flanges maintaining them in proper spaced relations, and means projecting from each row into an adjacent row for maintaining the baflles in each row properl staggered relative to the baflles of the a jacent rows.

4. A fluid separator comprising a lurality of rows of baflies assembled to form anks of bafiles, and positioning members fixed to some of the rows and projecting into adjacent rows for determining and maintaining the proper relative position of the adjacent rows, said rows comprising elongate baflies spaced apart, and in which each of said positioning members has one portion between and in contact with the sides of the same baflie in one row, and another portion between and in contact with the sidesof two adjacent baflies in the adjacent row.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands.

GRANT D. BRADSHAW. ROGER W. ANDREWS. 

